Results 2,641-2,660 of 6,055 for speaker:Frank Feighan

Seanad: Order of Business (3 Jul 2018)

Frank Feighan: I welcome-----

Seanad: Order of Business (3 Jul 2018)

Frank Feighan: I welcome the very recent decision, published only a few minutes ago, of the Unite trade union in the United Kingdom. It has agreed to be open to the possibility of a popular vote being held on any deal, depending on political circumstances. It is a bit vague but it is welcome. A few weeks ago we saw the polls change. Now 53% of the people of the United Kingdom want to remain. There was...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Hospital Facilities (27 Jun 2018)

Frank Feighan: I am grateful for the opportunity to discuss with the Minister of State an excellent project for Roscommon University Hospital and the western region. As I said before, the medical rehabilitation unit is one of three major capital developments planned at Roscommon University Hospital. The other two are an endoscopy unit which is open and extremely busy and a hospice care centre that will be...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Hospital Facilities (27 Jun 2018)

Frank Feighan: Apart from the employment which will be created during the construction phase, it is also important to say that once the rehabilitation unit becomes fully operational, it will create 25 jobs initially and up to 50 when all phases are complete. When all of these positions come onstream, more than 400 staff will be working in the hospital which is busier and safer than ever. However, I really...

Seanad: Order of Business (27 Jun 2018)

Frank Feighan: I agree with Senator Marie-Louise O'Donnell in her view on the Sparkasse banking model, for which Ireland is waiting. From speaking to people at the German embassy, I know that it has been a major success. It is a local bank and a people's bank. We need to do more in that regard. It would help the Irish banking system. I agree with Senators Victor Boyhan and David Norris. We are in a...

Seanad: Order of Business (27 Jun 2018)

Frank Feighan: I listened to people on radio recently. What is happening is petty and cynical and denying people the right to see the Pope or their spiritual leader. We talk about celebrating diversity and encouraging difference, but what is happening does not do that. I appeal to those who are using this situation. What is happening is petty and wrong and they do not have the support of the vast...

Seanad: Order of Business (27 Jun 2018)

Frank Feighan: Unfortunately, with everything being done online, they are being left out.

Seanad: Mental Health (Amendment) Bill 2016: Report and Final Stages (27 Jun 2018)

Frank Feighan: I thank Senators Freeman, Craughwell and Marie-Louise O'Donnell for their work on this important issue. Senator Freeman has led the way and she summed up the matter when she said this is what is in the best interests of children. The very thought of a child being detained in an adult ward is repugnant to all of us. The trauma experienced by a child placed in an adult psychiatric ward, and...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Railway Safety (Amendment) Bill 2018: Discussion (27 Jun 2018)

Frank Feighan: I took the train from Sligo yesterday and it was a very pleasant experience. If it was a little quicker, it would be better but it was pleasant nonetheless. I have a few questions regarding the general scheme of the railway safety (amendment) Bill. The witness said that with the amendment to the Public Transport Regulation Act 2009, the school transport scheme was inadvertently excluded...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Railway Safety (Amendment) Bill 2018: Discussion (27 Jun 2018)

Frank Feighan: It is a very liberal regime.

Seanad: Order of Business (26 Jun 2018)

Frank Feighan: I would like to propose a vote of congratulations to Arlene Foster, the leader of the DUP, and also to the GAA family from Fermanagh and Donegal for the reception they gave her. It was a wonderful gesture to attend the Ulster final and it sets out an agenda that, hopefully, things are changing in Northern Ireland. That should not go unnoticed, especially given the Taoiseach's visit to east...

Seanad: Mental Health (Amendment) Bill 2017: Motion (26 Jun 2018)

Frank Feighan: I move:That Seanad Éireann do not insist on Seanad amendment No. 4.

Seanad: Mental Health (Amendment) Bill 2017: Motion (26 Jun 2018)

Frank Feighan: I thank all stakeholders, including Deputy James Browne, for their work on progressing mental health reform and in respect of this Bill. Deputy Browne is seeking a number of key changes to the Mental Health Act 2001 which will give patients more say in their treatment and often more protection. I understand the Dáil has agreed to all the Seanad amendments bar one, which concerns...

Seanad: Order of Business (19 Jun 2018)

Frank Feighan: I join my colleagues in absolutely condemning the horrific scenes of children of illegal immigrants being separated from their families. I say this as somebody who has huge respect for the people of the United States. It has been the leader of the free world. Any time I look at the Seanad or any democracy, I think we would not have a free democracy in the western Europe except for the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: Impact of Brexit on the Good Friday Agreement: Discussion (Resumed) (14 Jun 2018)

Frank Feighan: I thank Dr. Byrne. It is great to see him again. We have met on many occasions on the various circuits. He raised three specific areas, namely, Brexit, the current issues impacting on Northern Ireland and the importance of language. We are talking about hard and soft borders, etc. The polls regarding a united Ireland differ widely. Some reflect the impact of Brexit and others do not. We...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: Impact of Brexit on the Good Friday Agreement: Discussion (Resumed) (14 Jun 2018)

Frank Feighan: Does purgatory still exist?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: Impact of Brexit on the Good Friday Agreement: Discussion (Resumed) (14 Jun 2018)

Frank Feighan: Senator Lawless and I were in Westminster for the last two days. We met the All-Party Parliamentary Group on the Irish in Britain to discuss the extension of voting rights to Irish emigrants. The huge level of goodwill towards the island of Ireland in Westminster is to be welcomed. I would like to ask the witnesses about a speech that was made at Queen's University Belfast by the former...

Seanad: Order of Business (14 Jun 2018)

Frank Feighan: I have just spent two very interesting days in Westminster, and was there during a Brexit vote. I brought our emigrant Senator Billy Lawless to the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Ireland and the Irish in Britain to talk about emigration reform and votes for emigrants. There is huge goodwill in Westminster and the House of Lords, among all the parties and Members, towards the island of...

Seanad: Order of Business (30 May 2018)

Frank Feighan: With regard to the Garda and the Minister for Justice and Equality, I would like to put to the House that applications for the current round of Garda recruitment finishes next Wednesday, 6 June, at 3 p.m. Bringing the Garda strength up to 15,000 by 2021 is something we should absolutely welcome. It is great for rural and urban areas. I was a bit concerned that the GRA stated there was a...

Seanad: Report on Children's Mental Health Services: Statements (Resumed) (30 May 2018)

Frank Feighan: I will share some of my time with Senator Devine. I am delighted to be here to put this issue centre stage once more. I thank Senator Freeman and all the Members of the Oireachtas and the stakeholders who had an input into this very valuable report, particularly the service users and their families. As the report notes, mental illness should be treated no differently from physical illness....